Worrying about shedding from your carpet is totally understandable. It can be quite discouraging when a new carpet begins to shed, or worse – when an older one starts shedding after years of use. Our expert carpet cleaning experts at Academy Chem-Dry can help explain why this might be happening, especially in the first few months of a new carpet, and provide advice about how to stop it from happening again in the future.
It’s quite normal for newly-installed carpets to shed a bit during their first few months, particularly cut pile carpets with spun yarns, wool, and shag carpeting. Though it may be irritating to see fibers around your home, this initial shedding shouldn’t impact the long-term performance or look of your carpet. It should begin to slow down over time and eventually stop after two to three months of consistent use.
If shedding persists or starts up again later, there could be something wrong with the carpet fibers or their quality. It’s important to get in touch with the manufacturer and discuss this further. Additionally, improper care of the carpet can also contribute to shedding, so consider this a possibility if you’re concerned about any ongoing shedding issues.
How to Prevent Shedding
Here are some tips for caring for your carpet to prevent shedding and protect its lifespan:
- Maintain a regular carpet cleaning routine and be gentle when performing it. Use a light touch and avoid using the highest setting on the cleaning machine.
- Vacuum with the grain of the carpet to avoid excessive wear and tear.
- Consider using a throw rug in areas of high traffic to extend the lifespan of the carpet and prevent premature shedding.
- Hire professional carpet cleaners at least twice a year to remove deep-set dirt that can cause friction on delicate fibers. They can also help speed up the initial shedding process by removing loose fibers all at once.
By following these steps, you can help keep your carpet looking its best and prevent shedding from becoming a problem.
How Shedding Affects Rugs
In addition to wall-to-wall carpets, rugs can shed fibers as well. This is usually caused by the shearing process that happens after wool and silk rugs are woven. These loose fibers can be eliminated with careful vacuuming and brushing with a beater brush or horse hair brush. If shedding persists, you might want to consider specialized rug cleaning services from a carpet cleaner, which can help lift away those stray fibers and make your rugs good as new for use.
Whether you have a new carpet that is shedding or an older carpet or rug that is starting to show signs of wear, our carpet cleaners can help. Get in touch with the carpet experts at Academy Chem-Dry today by calling 410-987-3127. Academy Chem-Dry services the Annapolis area including cities like Crownsville Park, Millersville, Dayton, and Ellicott City.